Why Chennai Super Kings were the real winners at the IPL 2024 auctions

The IPL 2024 auction brought a new wave of excitement for fans, breaking the "most expensive ever" record twice in the same day. However, what has gone unnoticed is the brilliance displayed by the Chennai Super Kings in their auction purchases.

What

• The IPL 2024 auction at the Coca-Cola arena yesterday (December 19) left us with our jaws dropped after multiple players bagged a mammoth deal for them.
• We saw SRH and KKR break their banks and the record for most expensive buys with Pat Cummins for 20.50 crore and Mitchell Starc for 24.75 crore respectively. T
• he extravagant sums paid for these players drew considerable attention, overshadowing the astute moves made by the Chennai Super Kings in the auction room.

• Whereas the five-time winners of the competition, Chennai Super Kings, took the smarter route at the auction and sealed some of the smartest deals for the upcoming season.

Is CSK the winner of the IPL 2024 auction?

• CSK’s strategic acquisitions seem to have filled essential gaps within their squad seamlessly.
• Their highest expenditure of Rs 14 crore for New Zealand batter Daryll Mitchell, a standout performer at the ODI World Cup 2023, solidifies the squad's middle order, showcasing the team's emphasis on bolstering specific positions with experienced and impactful players.

• The CSK table at the auction looked poised and planned up with each of their bids and only went for a player who they were absolutely sure about. 
• The five-time champions of IPl already had a formidable lineup before they walked into the auction and with their recent purchases, they have created a good balance. 

Rachin Ravindra

• The entire cricket fandom had their eyes on Rachin Ravindra even before the auction began. 
• Several fans online predicted the 24-year-old all-rounder from New Zealand to attract a lot of teams during the auction because of his sublime performances in the past two years. 

• However, CSK shocked the cricket world when they acquired the talented youngster for a mere Rs 1.8 crore. 
• With his resilience and extraordinary ability with the bat, Rachin Ravindra fits right into the top order of CSK. 

Shardul Thakur

• The IPL 2024 auction also gave a homecoming chance to Indian pacer Shardul Thakur, after his former franchise CSK bought him for Rs 4 crore. 

• With the acquisition of Thakur, CSK have expanded their choices in their bowling lineup which already includes the likes of Deepak Chahar and Mustafizur Rahman. 

 
Mustafizur Rahman

• Although the pacer from Bangladesh had a forgetful last couple of seasons at the IPL, bagging Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 2 crore is a clear win. 

• The pacer will add depth to the CSK bowling lineup. Having three explosive pacers like Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, and Mustafizur makes it a deal that hardly anyone will pass on.

Daryll Mitchell

• One of the best purchases from yesterday was CSK sealing New Zealand’s Daryll Mitchell for a whooping Rs 14 crore. 

• The strong hitter of the ball is exactly what CSK needed in their middle order, which will also open the door for their star MS Dhoni to have an option to come in as an impact player in some games. 
• A lineup like Rachin Ravindra, Rituraj Gaikwad, Daryll Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, is nothing short of a dream choice due to the balance they create in a squad. 

Sameer Rizvi

• This is one deal that surprised all the IPL fans. 
• CSK did something extraordinary when they went ahead and bought a Rs 20 lakh base priced Sameer Rizvi for a massive Rs 8.40 crore. 

• Rizvi is yet to make his debut for his national side and made his debut in 2020 and has been performing considerably well in his Ranji matches for Uttar Pradesh. 
• The 20-year old batter all-rounder from Meerut has become the talk of the town, which makes one wonder on the impact he will have in IPL 2024.

 Avanish Rao Aravelly

• CSK cheapest-buy at the IPL 2024 auction goes to 18-year-old Avanish Rao Aravelly. 

• The wicket-keeper batter will provide a young keeper option to CSK in the upcoming season and might just open the door for a keeper change as an impact player during a match.